Blank turning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for reversing a box blank after it has been treated, e.g., coated, on one side so that it may then be treated on its reverse side. The apparatus includes a roller, positioned adjacent the downstream end of a conveyor carrying the blank from the first coater, which cooperates with the conveyor to grip the blank on both sides and propel it against a flat plate stop member. After striking the stop member the blank is allowed to fall downwardly against a curved pivot plate member which curves downwardly from the flat plate member and outwardly toward a second conveyor which extends downwardly from the first conveyor. As the blank falls against the pivot plate member its end opposite the end which struck stop member begins pivoting downwardly until it strikes the second conveyor and, through frictional engagement of this end with a second conveyor and engagement of the intermediate portion of the blank with a curved plate member, the blank is pivoted so that it is dropped on a third conveyor with its sides and ends reversed from its position on the first conveyor.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Heinz B. Fischer Covington, Va. [2]]Appl. No. 798,353 [22] Filed Feb. 11, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971[73] Assignee Westvaco Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] BLANK TURNING APPARATUS 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. [52 us. Cl. .L198/33 [51 Int. Cl B653 47/24 [50] Field of Search 198/33.4; 2l4/l(R),69, 65, 70; 101/231, 267

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,628,098 2/ 1953Bauerschmidt 198/334 2,817,306 12/1957 Oakes 198/33.4

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Attorney-James L. Neal ABSTRACT:Apparatus for reversing a box blank after it has been treated, e.g.,coated, on one side so that it may then be treated on its reverse side.The apparatus includes a roller, positioned adjacent the downstream endof a conveyor carrying the blank from the first coater, which cooperateswith the conveyor to grip the blank on both sides and propel it againsta flat plate stop member. After striking the stop member the blank isallowed to fall downwardly against a curved pivot plate member whichcurves downwardly from the flat plate member and outwardly toward asecond conveyor which extends downwardly from the first conveyor. As theblank falls against the pivot plate member its end opposite the endwhich struck stop member begins pivoting downwardly until it strikes thesecond conveyor and, through frictional engage ment of this end with asecond conveyor and engagement of the intermediate portion of the blankwith a curved plate member, the blank is pivoted so that it is droppedon a third conveyor with its sides and ends reversed from its positionon the first conveyor.

PATENTEDHAR 219?: 3,567,008

SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVISN'IUR.

ljE INZ B. FISCHER PATENTEDHAR 21971 3,567,008

SHEEI20F2 INVEN'IOR. EI EINZ B. FISCHER BLANK TURNING APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Turning of blanksso that they may be treated on both sides.

2. DESCRIPTIONOF THE PRIOR ART In theconventional blank miningoperation, the blank is gripped between a pair of opposing conveyorbelts which are twisted and trained about diagonally opposed rollers. Asthe belts turn in passing from the upstream to the downstream rollers,the :blank gripped between the belts is turned also. In this type ofoperation there is a tendency for the blank to become skewed as ittravels downstream between the opposing belts. A further, and probablymore undesirable disadvantage of this type of operation, is theexcessive amount of floor space required for the turning mechanism. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The turning apparatus of the present inventionpivots the blank aboutklines running parallel to the cross machinedirection rather than attemptirigto pivot the blank about the centerlinethereof in the machine direction, as in the prior art. In this way, themachine is made exceptionally compact; requiring only a fraction of thefloor space occupied by conventional turning mechanism. Because theedges of the blank are brought into abutting relationship with variouscomponents of the turning mechanism as the blank is beingturned, thetendency for the blank to become skewed as it passes through themechanism is considerably reduced as compared to the conventionalpractice. Where the length of the blanks to be processed may varyconsiderably from batch to batch, provision may be made for varying thespacing between the operative components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1a through 1e are somewhatschematic representa- Q DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seenin FIG. 1a of the drawings, the essential elements of the presentinvention include a conveyor 1, a portion of the operative reach 2 ofwhich, cooperates with a roller 3 to grip a box blank 4 on oppositesides thereof and propel it, as seen in FIG. lb against a flat platestop member 5 having a downwardly and inwardly curved plate member 6extending from adjacent the stop member 5 toward a second conveyor 7 andterminating adjacent-a third conveyor 8. It will be seen in FIG. 10 thatafter the forward movement of the box blank has been terminated by thestop member 5 the blank falls against the curved plate member 6 with oneend of the blank engaging the operative reach of the conveyor 7 to moredownwardly, and, since the intermediate portion of the box blank isengaged by the curved plate member 6, the lower end of the blank ispivoted past the upper end thereof and onto the conveyor 8, as seen inFIG. 1d The blank is then carried by the third conveyor 8 for furthertreatment. For example, the blank may require coating on both sides,printing and scoring on both sides or perhaps, coating on one side andprinting and scoring on the opposite side. It will be noted that theprocess is a continuous one as seen in FIGS. 1c -le a second box blank4' is being moved into position as the first blank 4 is reversed andcarried away by the conveyor 8.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the blank turningmechanism comprises a pair of upright frame members 9 and 9 mounted oneither side of the third conveyor 8 and supporting a substantiallyU-shaped frame member I0 (see FIG. 5). Eachleg of the U-shaped framemember carries a pair of spaced-apart track bars ll which form a guideslot for each of the spaced-apart swig member carriages 12. As seen inFIG. 4, the stop member 5 spans the legs of he U- shaped frame memberand is attached at each end to one of the carriages 12. A toothedsprocket ll3, having a handle 14, is journaled in the frame member 9 andasecond sprocket I5 is mounted adjacent the upper end of member i 9. Athird sprocket 16 is journaled on the same shaft as the sprocket I5 andadditionalv sprockets 17, 18, and 19 are mounted on one leg of theU-shaped frame member in substantial alignment with the sprocket I6. Anendless chain 20 is trained about the sprocket 13 and upwardly about thesprocket 15. A second chain 21 is trained about rollers I6, 17, I8, and19 are mounted on one leg of the -U-shaped frame member in substantialalignment with the sprocket 16. An endless chain'20 is trained about thesprocket l3 and upwardly about the sprocket l5. A second chain 21 istrained about rollers 16, 17, I8, and 19 and has the free ends thereofattached to the front and rear ends of one carriage member 12. SprocketI9 is mounted on a shaft 19' which extends across the U-shaped framemember and bears a corresponding sprocket at its opposite end where,with the use of sprockets corresponding to sprockets l6, l7, and 18 anda chain corresponding to chain 21 the carriage on the opposite leg ofthe U-shaped frame member is caused to move in unison with the carriagemember 12. A sprocket 22 having a handle 23 :is mounted adjacent thelower end of the other upright frame member 9'. An additional sprocket24is mounted on the upper end of frame member 9' in alignment with hesprocket 22 to form a rack and pinion arrangement with the shaft 25. Achain 26 is trained around the sprockets 22 and 24 so that upon rotationof the handle 23 the rod 25 is caused to move upwardly and, through theconnecting link 27, pivot the U-shaped frame 10 about the pivotconnection 28. A connecting shaft extends across'the frame 10 and thesprocket 24 is mounted on one end thereof and a corresponding sprocketis mounted on the opposite end. Through this mechanism, and a rod andlink corresponding to rod 25 and link 27, movement is transmitted fromsprocket 22 to both sides of frame 10.

Each of the upright frame members 9' adjacent their lower ends isprovided with an angle member 29 projecting inwardly and supporting, ontheir lower legs 30*, one end of the curved plate member 6.

With the above-described arrangement, it will be seen that the spacingbetween the stop member 5 and the conveyor 1 and the inclination of theU-shaped frame member 10 may be varied to suit blanks ofa wide varietyof lengths. It may also be noted that clamp means may be provided on theangle members 29 so that the lower end of the plate member 6 may beclamped in position and the curvature thereof varied by moving thecarriages 12 up and down their respective tracks.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described forpurposes of illustration, it will be apparent that modifications thereofwill readily occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of theappended claims.

Iclaim:

l. apparatus for turning an article comprising:

a. means for advancing said article in a first direction;

b. means spaced from said advancing means for engaging one end of saidarticle and terminating movement thereof in said first direction;

0. means for engaging the opposite end of said article and moving saidopposite end in a second direction; and

d. stationary means located along said second direction from said meansfor terminating movement of said article and spaced from said means formoving said opposite end in said second direction for engaging saidarticle intermediate its ends as said opposite end moves in said seconddirection; whereby said opposite end is pivoted past said one end.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. second means for engaging said opposite end and moving it in a thirddirection after said opposite end is moved in second direction.

3. Apparatus for turning an article comprising:

a. means for advancing said article in a first direction;

b. means spaced from said advancing means for engaging one end of saidarticle and terminating movement thereof in said first direction whereinsaid means for terminating movement of said article extendssubstantially normal to said first direction;

0. means for engaging an opposite end of said article and moving saidopposite end in a second direction;

d. stationary means for engaging said article intermediate its ends assaid opposite end moves in said second direction; whereby said oppositeend is pivoted past said one end; and

e. second means for engaging said opposite end and moving it in a thirddirection after said opposite end is moved in said second direction. I

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein: a. said means for engaging said articleintermediate its ends is positioned beneath said means for terminatingmovement thereof and spaced from said means for moving said opposite endin said second direction.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said means for moving said articlein said first direction comprises a first endless conveyor belt and aroller positioned above said conveyor to engage said article on a sideopposite the side thereof engaged by said conveyor and advance saidarticle in said first direction.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein: a. said means for moving said oppositeend of said article in said second direction comprises a second endlessconveyor belt, the operative reach of which extends from adjacent saidroller downwardly therefrom in said direction.

7. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. said second means com-- prises athird endlessconveyor belt, one end of the operative reach of which ispositioned adjacent said second endless conveyor belt 8. Apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein:

a. said means for terminating movement of said article com-.

prises a flat plate member;

b. said means for engaging said article intermediate its ends comprisesa curved plate member;

c. one end of said curved plate member being positioned adjacent saidflat plate member;

cl. the opposite end of said curved plate member being positionedadjacent said third conveyor belt; and

e. the intermediate portion of said curved plate member is curved towardsaid second conveyor belt.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 including:

a. means for varying the spacing between said flat plate member and saidfirst conveyor 10. Turning apparatus comprising:

a. a first conveyor belt, the operative reach of which extends in agenerally horizontal direction;

b. a roller positioned adjacent one end of said operative reach of saidconveyor with the axis of said roller in spaced, parallel relationshipto said reach;

c. a second conveyor belt, the operative reach of which extends fromadjacent said first conveyor belt downwardly and away therefrom;

d. a third conveyor belt, the operative reach of which extends in asubstantially horizontal direction away from adjacent the lower end ofthe operative reach of said second conveyor belt;

e. a pair of upright frame members positioned on each side of said thirdconveyor belt;

f. a substantially U-shaped frame member;

g. means pivotally connecting distal portions of the legs of saidU-shaped member to opposing upright frame members positioned on oppositesides of said third conveyor belt;

h. means defining a track positioned on each leg of said U- shapedmember; r. a carriage member engaging each of said tracks;

j a flat plate stop member spanning the legs of said U-shaped framemember and attached at each end to one of said carriage members;

k. a curved plate member attached to said carriage members and extendingtherefrom, inwardly toward said second conveyor belt and downwardlytoward said third conveyor belt;

l. sprocket means mounted on each of said legs of said U- shaped framemember;

m. a chain trained over each of said sprocket means and attached at eachend to the front and rear of each said carriage members;

n. means for rotating said sprocket means; whereby said carriages aremoved in unison along their respective tracks; and

0. means for pivoting said U-shaped frame member about its pivotalconnection to said upright frame members.

Patent (SEAL) Inventor(s) EDWARD M. FIE'I'CHERJR. Atteating OfficerUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION No. 3,567,008Dated March 2, 1971 Heinz B. Fischer It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 68, following "Fig. 1d" insert Column 2, line 8,following "legs of" correct the spelling of -the--; line 18, delete"are" lines 19 through 22 inclusive, delete entirely; line 23, deletel8, and 19" Column 3, line 3 (Claim 2, line 3) following "moved in"insert said--; line 35 (Claim 6, line 5) following "said insert-second-.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of July 1971.

Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Commissioner of Patents

1. APPARATUS FOR TURNING AN ARTICLE COMPRISING: A. MEANS FOR ADVANCINGSAID ARTICLE IN A FIRST DIRECTION; B. MEANS SPACED FROM SAID ADVANCINGMEANS FOR ENGAGING ONE END OF SAID ARTICLE AND TERMINATING MOVEMENTTHEREOF IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION; C. MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE OPPOSITE ENDOF SAID ARTICLE AND MOVING SAID OPPOSITE END IN A SECOND DIRECTION; ANDD. STATIONARY MEANS LOCATED ALONG SAID SECOND DIRECTION FROM SAID MEANSFOR TERMINATING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLE AND SPACED FROM SAID MEANS FORMOVING SAID OPPOSITE END IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION FOR ENGAGING SAIDARTICLE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AS SAID OPPOSITE END MOVES IN SAID SECONDDIRECTION; WHEREBY SAID OPPOSITE END IS PIVOTED PAST SAID ONE END. 2.Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. second means for engagingsaid opposite end and moving it in a third direction after said oppositeend is moved in second direction.
 3. Apparatus for turning an articlecomprising: a. means for advancing said article in a first direction; b.means spaced from said advancing means for engaging one end of saidarticle and terminating movement thereof in said first direction whereinsaid means for terminating movement of said article extendssubstantially normal to said first direction; c. means for engaging anopposite end of said article and moving said opposite end in a seconddirection; d. stationary means for engaging said article intermediateits ends as said opposite end moves in said second direction; wherebysaid opposite end is pivoted past said one end; and e. second means forengaging said opposite end and moving it in a third direction after saidopposite end is moved in said second direction.
 4. Apparatus of claim 3wherein: a. said means for engaging said article intermediate its endsis positioned beneath said means for terminating movement thereof andspaced from said means for moving said opposite end in said seconddirection.
 5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said means for movingsaid article in said first direction comprises a first endless conveyorbelt and a roller positioned above said conveyor to engage said articleon a side opposite the side thereof engaged by said conveyor and advancesaid article in said first direction.
 6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein:a. said means for moving said opposite end of said article in saidsecond direction comprises a second endless conveyor belt, the operativereach of which extends from adjacent said roller downwardly therefrom insaid direction.
 7. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. said second meanscomprises a third endless conveyor belt, one end of the operative reachof which is positioned adjacent said second endless conveyor belt. 8.Apparatus of claim 7 wherein: a. said means for terminating movement ofsaid article comprises a flat plate member; b. said means for engagingsaid article intermediate its ends comprises a curved plate member; c.one end of said curved plate member being positioned adjacent said flatplate member; d. the opposite end of said curved plate member beingpositioned adjacent said third conveyor belt; and e. the intermediateportion of said curved plate member is curved toward said secondconveyor belt.
 9. Apparatus of claim 8 including: a. means for varyingthe spacing between said flat plate member and said first conveyor 10.TurninG apparatus comprising: a. a first conveyor belt, the operativereach of which extends in a generally horizontal direction; b. a rollerpositioned adjacent one end of said operative reach of said conveyorwith the axis of said roller in spaced, parallel relationship to saidreach; c. a second conveyor belt, the operative reach of which extendsfrom adjacent said first conveyor belt downwardly and away therefrom; d.a third conveyor belt, the operative reach of which extends in asubstantially horizontal direction away from adjacent the lower end ofthe operative reach of said second conveyor belt; e. a pair of uprightframe members positioned on each side of said third conveyor belt; f. asubstantially U-shaped frame member; g. means pivotally connectingdistal portions of the legs of said U-shaped member to opposing uprightframe members positioned on opposite sides of said third conveyor belt;h. means defining a track positioned on each leg of said U-shapedmember; i. a carriage member engaging each of said tracks; j a flatplate stop member spanning the legs of said U-shaped frame member andattached at each end to one of said carriage members; k. a curved platemember attached to said carriage members and extending therefrom,inwardly toward said second conveyor belt and downwardly toward saidthird conveyor belt; l. sprocket means mounted on each of said legs ofsaid U-shaped frame member; m. a chain trained over each of saidsprocket means and attached at each end to the front and rear of eachsaid carriage members; n. means for rotating said sprocket means;whereby said carriages are moved in unison along their respectivetracks; and o. means for pivoting said U-shaped frame member about itspivotal connection to said upright frame members.